Cluster bomb



May 9, 19:44- A..N. BRAUN 2,348,240

CLUSTER BOMB Filed Dec. 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l Wax INVENTOR BY m P ATTORNEY y 1944- A. N. BRAUN I 2,348,240

CLUSTER BOMB Filed Dec. 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 9, 1944.

A. N. BRAUN CLUSTER BOMB Filed Dec. 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 9, 1944 TED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

The present invention deals with pattern bombing and more particularly is concerned with a cluster bomb and the salient and dominant objects, features and functional and structural advantages thereof will be better understood from a consideration of the following detailed description viewed in the light of theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating several stages in the opening of the cluster bomb according to the invention pursuant to the release thereof from a plane.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the cluster bomb.

taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 but in its closed relation.

Fig. 3 is a, schematic view of the .cluster bomb fully opened or separated.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the origin or central guide bomb of the cluster bomb.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 6 illustrating the manner of interlocking one of the cables holding receptacles to its associated bomb casing.

Fig. '7 illustrates the manner of the separation or paying out of its centre of an initially coiled cable which interconnects a pair of peripheral bombs and the origin bomb and one of the pe ripheral bombs of the cluster bomb during the course of the latters flight.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary and perspective view of one of the peripheral bombs of the cluster bomb, however with its stabilizer removed.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 2 partly broken away to illustrate the normal confinement of the closed coils of the interconnecting cables between the origin and peripheral bombs and between a pair of the latter of the cluster bomb.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary broken view of Fig. 9 showing the interconnecting cables between the origin and peripheral bombs and between a pair of the latter fully extended.

Fig. 11 is a modified view of one of the bombs of the cluster, and

Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing the fully extended relation of an intervening cable between a pair of bomb units of the cluster bomb.

According to the invention the normally closed cluster bomb generally denoted C comprises six liex sided peripheral and similar bombs or bomb units P contacting and surrounding the common hex sided origin bomb or guide bomb or bomb unit 0.

The origin bomb is connected to each of the peripheral bombs by a wire cable It and wire cables H interconnect adjacent peripheral bombs P.

Each origin and peripheral bomb of'the cluster bomb is loaded with a cartridge l2 containing the powder or dynamite charge l3 disposed above the nose l4 thereof projecting beyond the frusto-conical lower end l5 of the respective hex shaped hollow bomb casing or shell it. Each casing 16 of all the bomb units of the cluster bomb has fixedly disposed therein upper and lower horizontal partitions l1 and I3 provided respectively with the cartridge positioning openings l9 and 20.

Each of the upper and lower partitions or cable supporting means I! and I8 of the origin and peripheral bombs is provided with a plurality of radially arranged compound openings broadly denoted 2| each having a relatively expanded portion 22 communicating with a restricted slot portion 23, the expanded portions 22 serving as means to 'allow knotted or enlarged terminals or stop means 24 of the inner and outer bifurcated ends 25 of the cables to be inserted into compound openings 2| and shifted into the reduced slots 23 whereby the ends of the cables are initially threaded and subsequently tightly retained therein, the knots 24 being held against removal in a direction downwardly by the upper part of the upper partitions I! and being held against removal in an upwardly direction by the lower parts of the lower partitions [8. In other words each of the cables 10 and II of the origin and peripheral bombs have their bifurcated ends 25 retained in the upper and lower partitions l1 and I8 of these bomb units and in each of the bomb units of the cluster bomb a threaded shank 30 mounted on a fixed baffle 3| is adapted to threadably extend into a threaded and axially arranged bore 32 to facilitate centering of its associated bomb or unit.

Each side of the casing l6 of the origin bomb and all the sides of the'casings l6 of the peripheral bombs embody an elongated opening 33 and extending inwardly from each casing l6 and from the sides of these openings 33 is a pair of upper and lower sheet metal relatively resilient lugs or tongues 34 having the inclined lugs 35 for initially overlapping and subsequently interlocking with the inclined lips or tongues 36 extending out wardly from the sides 38 of a cable receiving rec ptacle 39 closelyfitting into and substantially coextensive with the width and length of each of the elongated openings 33. By this arrangement the receptacles are retained in place as desired although they .may be permanently secured by welding the peripheral flange .or rims 40 thereof to their respective casings l8 and the upper and lower walls of the receptacles are provided with openings 4| to allow the bifurcated terminals 25 of the cables to be threaded therethrough as illustrated.

Where the cluster bomb is in a closed relation, the cables IO and Ii are closely packed in coiled form as shown in Fig. 9 and each coiled cable is disposed in a pair of alined receptacles or racks 39 although the windings of each pair of coils 42 and 43 of a cable as It or II are wound in opposite directions. For example the turns of coils 42 (Fig. 7) follow a counterclockwise direction while turns of coils 43 follow a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrows and their inner adjacent ends are integrally interconnected by the bridge biased portion 44. By reason of this construction each cable pays out from its centre thereof, thus uncoiling or unwinding easily from the middle during the flight of the cluster bomb on release, the outer ends 46 of an associated pair of coils or sections 42 and 43 of each cable are appropriately welded at 41 to the oppositely turned loops 48 and 49 of the bifurcated terminals 25 thereof, the cables together with the terminals thereof being of a suitable foldable wire but in strength ample to sustain the load of the peripheral bombs as suspended from the origin or centre guide bomb, the terminals 25 extending in opposite directions and loops 48 and 49 facilitate paying out thereof on the discharge of the cluster bomb.

For directing the course of the cluster bomb in its flight to the target, each of the bombs of the cluster bomb is provided with the perpendicularly arranged fins 50 and the fins 5| of the origin bomb being rectilinear throughout while the terminal of the fins 5| of the peripheral bombs being bowed or turned outwardly to direct the peripheral bombs awayvfrom the origin bomb after discharge oi the cluster bomb.

Fixedly attached in any appropriate manner to each of the bomb units of the cluster bomb is a stabilizer S, illustrated in Fig. 4 as a frusto-conical hollow casing provided with a centrally arranged opening 52. During flight a current of air is forced through the stabilizer and through the outlet opening 52, thus creating the desired drag and stabilization concomitantly facilitating proper guiding of a respective bomb unit. A illustrated in Fig. 11 the upper part of the stabilizer S is substantially elliptical in cross section and is likewise provided with an air outlet opening 52. The intermediate portion 53 of this stabilizer is contracted and merges with the arcuate bottom wall 54 appropriately fixedly anchored to the fins 50 and 5|.

Normally and before discharge of a cluster bomb, the latter is desirably held in a closed relation prior to release but upon release the several peripheral bomb units of the cluster bomb spread away from the centre guide bomb unit thus forming a pattern for desirably striking the target along many diversified objects. In the matter of the utilization of a cluster bomb the latter may be elfectively employed to straddle the target during bombing and likewise may be effectively used for depth charges. Thus by the present invention the area of coverage in bombing is appreciably extended.

As previously stated the centre bomb or bomb unit of the cluster bomb guides the latter in flight to the target and each of the bomb units as illustrated is of hexagonal or polygonal shape whereby the peripheral bomb units may be clustered closely about the central guide unit to form a multiple bomb with the peripheral bomb units thereof disposed in juxtaposition relative to each other and to the central guide bomb and of course although each unit is of hexagonal contour, other polygonal forms may be utilized as is well understood for purposes of producing other bombing patterns on the expansion of the cluster bomb on its flight to the target or targets.

It is within the scope of the invention to utilize various types of bombs including incendiary, fragmentary and/or demolition bomb units in the cluster bomb to carry into eflect diversified destructions simultaneously.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein. e

I claim: I

I. A cluster bomb for pattern bombing comprising a plurality of iuxtapositioned bomb units, normally coiled cables interposed between each pair of units of said plurality, each of said cables comprising oppositely coiled interconnected and substantially coaxially alined sections, said oppositely coiled sections of a cable having normally compact formations disposed in a pair of juxtapositioned units of said plurality, each of said sections having bifurcated ends, and means connecting said ends to said units.

2. A cluster bomb comprising a plurality of juxtapositioned bomb units, normally coiled but distendible cables interposed between a pair of juxtapositioned units of said plurality, each of said cables comprising oppositely coiled and interconnected sections, the coils of said sections of a cable having normally a close compact relation and substantially coaxially arranged in a pair of adjacent units of said plurality, each of said sections having bifurcated ends, and means for securing said ends to upper and lower portions of said units.

3. A cluster bomb for pattern bombing comprising a plurality of iuxtapositioned bomb units provided with elongated and opposing housing means, normally coiled cables in a pair of opposing housing means of said plurality, each of said cables having oppositely coiled and interconnected sections substantially coaxially disposed at least in part in a pair of said opposing housing means; each of said cables having bifurcated ends. and means for securing said ends tocorresoonding portions of said units.

4. A cluster bomb comprising a central guide bomb unit and a plurality of iuxtapositioned peripheral bomb units closely surrounding said guide bomb unit, normally coiled cables disposed in adjacent units of said plurality and said guide bomb unit, each of said cables comprising oppositely coiled portions each having bifurcated ends, and means connecting said ends to said upper and lower portions of said guide bomb unit and to upper and lower portions of said peripheral bomb units.

5. A normally closed and separable cluster bomb comprising a guide bomb unit, a plurality of juxtapositioned bomb units closely surrounding said bomb guide unit.'receptacles carried bysaid bomb guide unit and said plurality of units.

upper and lower supporting means within said units, cables having bifurcated ends threaded through said receptacles and retained by said upper and lower supporting means, said receptacles closely confining said cables in coiled formations between pairs of said units, and means to permit paying out of said cables from the centres thereof on the release of said cluster bomb in its flight towards a target to distend said coiled formations between pairs of said units.

6. A normally closed and separable cluster bomb for pattern bombing comprising a polygonal central guide bomb unit, a plurality of juxtapositioned polygonal bomb units closely surroundin said bomb guide unit, receptacles carried by said bomb guide unit and said plurality of units, upper and lower supporting means within said units, cables having bifurcated ends threaded through said receptacles and retained by said upper and lower supportin means, said receptacles closely confining said cables in oppositely coiled formations between pairs of said units, and means to permit paying out of said cables from the centre thereof on the release of said cluster bomb in its flight towards a target to distend said coiled formations between pairs of said units.

7. A normally closed and separable cluster bomb comprising a guide bomb unit, a plurality of juxtapositioned bomb units closely surrounding said bomb guide unit, receptacles carried by said bomb guide unit and said plurality of units, upper and lower supporting means within said units, cables having bifurcated ends retained by said upper and lower supporting means, said receptacles normally closely confining said cables in coiled formations between pairs Of said units in the closed relation of said cluster bomb, and

means to permit paying out of said cables from the centre thereof on the release of said cluster bomb in its flight towards a target prior to the full distension of said cables between said pairs of units.

8. A normally closed and separable cluster bomb comprising a guide bomb unit, a plurality of juxtapositioned and peripheral bomb units closely surrounding said bomb guide unit, receptacles carried by said bomb guide unit and said plurality of units, upper and lower. supporting means within said units, cables having bifurcated ends retained by said upper and lower supporting means, said receptacles closely confining said cables in oppositely coiled formations between a pair of said units, each of said cables having oppositely turned but interconnected coils to permit paying 01115.01 said cables from the centre thereof on the release of said cluster bomb in its flight towards a target while said bifurcated ends are retained by said supporting means, and means to direct said peripheral bomb units away from said guide bomb unit pursuant to said release of said cluster bomb to fully distend said formations between pairs of said units into substantially rectilinear form.

9. A normally closed and separable cluster bomb comprising a guide bomb unit having spaced tongues, a plurality of juxtapositioned bomb units closely surrounding said bomb guide unit and having spaced tongues, juxtapositioned receptacles carried by said bomb guide unit and said plurality of units and having tongues interlocking with said aforementioned tongues, upper and lower supporting means within said units, cables having bifurcated ends retained by said upper and lower supporting means, said receptacles normally closely confining said cables in coiled formations between pairs of said units in the closed relation of said cluster bomb, and means to permit paying out of said cables from the centre thereof on the release of said cluster bomb in its flight towards a target prior to the full distension of said cables between said pairs of units.

10. A cluster bomb comprising a guide bomb unit having upper and lower partitions and a plurality of juxtapositioned bomb units each having upper and lower partitions, normally coiled cables disposed in adjacent units of said plurality and said guide bomb unit, each of said cables comprising oppositely coiled sections each having terminal means and means connecting said terminal means to said upper and lower partitions of said guide bomb unit and to said upper and lower partitions of said plurality, the oppositely coiled sections of each of said cables having normally compact formations substantially coaxially disposed in opposed alined portions of said guide bomb unit and a juxtapositioned bomb unit of said plurality.

11. A normally closed and separable cluster bomb comprising a guide bomb unit, a plurality of juxtapositioned bomb units closely surrounding said bomb guide unit, receptacles carried by said bomb guide unit and said plurality of units, supporting means within said units, cables having terminal means secured to said receptacles and retained by said supporting means, said receptacles closely confining said cables in coiled formations between pairs of said units, and means to permit paying out of said cables from the centres thereof on the release of said cluster bomb in its flight towards a target to distend said coiled formations between pairs of said units.

12. A normally closed and separable cluster bomb comprising a guide bomb unit, a plurality of juxtapositioned bomb units closely surrounding said bomb guide unit, receptacles carried by said bomb guide unit and said plurality of units, upper and lower supporting means within said units, cables having terminal means threaded through said receptacles and retained by said upper and lower supporting means, said receptacles closely confining said cables in coiled formations between pairs of said units, and means to permit paying out of said cables from the centres thereof on the release of said cluster bomb in its flight towards a target to distend said coiled formations between pairs of said units.

ALEXANDER N. BRAUN. 

